Precooked frozen food package



Nov. 14, 1 961 3,008,837

M. KAPLAN PRECOOKED FROZEN FOOD PACKAGE Filed Aug. 25, 1959 INVENTOR. MANDALL KAPLAN ATTY.

3,008,837 PRECOOKED FROZEN FOOD PACKAGE Mandall Kaplan, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Kitchens of Sara Lee, Inc, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Maryland Filed Aug. 25, 1959, Ser. No. 335,884 4 Claims. (Cl. 99-192) The present invention relates generally to package construction and is more particularly concerned with the packing of pre-cooked, as yet unfrozen foods, such as chicken and the like, in flexible plastic packages. These packages usually comprise a pair of rectangular planar members heat sealed together at their marginal areas along three sides and left unsealed along the fourth side to form an open top container. After the food has been placed in the container the marginal areas along the fourth side of the members are heat sealed to form a fully enclosed air-tight package.

The packaged food is then frozen, and the frozen-food containing packages are each placed in individual protective boxes for shipping to and display in supermarkets, delicatessens, etc. To prepare a meal from food pack aged in this manner, one need only remove the frozen food-containing package from the box, drop the package in a pot of boiling water for several minutes to warm the food, remove the warmed-food containing package from the pot, break the package open to take out the food, and then serve.

A drawback in packages of the type described above is that difliculty would be experienced in removing the plastic package from the pot of boiling water. Because of the high temperature of the water, removal of the package by hand is not possible without running the risk of severe burns. Elimination of this drawback is a primary object of the improved package of the present invention which is provided with a slot punched in one of the sealed marginal portions, which slot may be hooked with the tines of a fork or with some other handy kitchen implement to fish the package out of the boiling water. However, in order to accommodate a slot of this nature it is necessary toenlarge the sealed marginal portion in which the slot is punched to a size substantially larger than the size of a corresponding marginal portion without the slot. This in turn increases the overall size of the package and seemingly necessitates a larger costlier box for holding the package. It is not always practicable to fold the enlarged marginal portion against the con tainer portion to decrease the overall size of the package so that it will fit into a smaller less expensive box because subjecting the heat-sealed plastic of which the marginal portions are composed to freezing temperatures oftentimes causes the sealed plastic to become brittle, and brittle marginal portions would crack or break if the package were bent or folded in the manner described.

To overcome this drawback and adapt the larger package so that it may be folded to fit the smaller less expensive box without running the risk of cracking the sealed portions is another object of the present invention. To this end, the package of the present invention is constructed in a novel manner, to be subsequently described, which enables the slotted heat-sealed marginal portion to be folded against the container portion without risking a cracking or breaking of the sealed marginal portions even though the latter have been maintained at freezing temperatures. By virtue of this construction the package of the present invention, although provided with an enlarged slotted marginal portion, will nevertheless fit into a box designed to hold a package having a substantially smaller corresponding marginal portion.

Other objects and advantages are inherent in the structure disclosed and claimed or will become apparent to those skilled in the art fro'mthe following detailed description inconjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein: V

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention showing a box holding a package for containing frozen food with one wall of the box removed.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the box and package shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an embodiment of the package.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 in FIG. 3.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 there is generally indicated a protective box 30 holding a package 10 containing frozen food. Box 30 comprises a bottom wall 31, vertically disposed side walls 32, 33, a vertical rear wall 34 and a vertical front wall (not shown). Swingably attached to rear wall 34 along the rear wall top edge 35 is a box cover portion 36 shown swung to an open position.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 package 10 comprises a pair of flexible rectangular members or sheets 11, 12 composed of heat sealable plastic such as Mylar polyethylene. Sheets 11, 12 are initially heat sealed together along marginal areas adjacent only the bottom and side edges 29, 20, 21 of each member to form laminated package bottom and side marginal portions 13, 15 and 16 extending around an open top packaged container portion 14.

Member 12 is provided with an upper lip portion 17 extending vertically beyond the upper edge 18 of member 11. Lip portion 17 may be manually grasped to facilitate separation of members 11., 12 so as to widen the opening in the top of container portion 14 prior to inserting the pre-cooked chicken or other food.

When container portion 14 is full, package 10 is closed by sealing members 11, 12 together along a strip or portion 19 extending between opposite side edges 20, 21 at the top of container portion 14. Members 11, 12 are also sealed along a portion 22 extending between side edges 20, 21 at the top of package 10. A slot 28 has been punched in sealed top portion 22 for receiving the tines of a fork or some other handy kitchen implement which hookingly engages slot 28 for lifting the package after the latter has been placed in boiling water to warm the frozen food contents as previously dmcribed. Dividing the top of package 10 into an outer sealed part (portion 22) and an inner sealed part (strip 19) are a pair.

of unsealed portions 23, 24 extending between side edges 20, 21 and separated by a sealed strip 25'.

After package 10 has been sealed in the manner de scribed it is maintained at below zero temperatures to prevent the enclosed cooked food from spoiling. The heat-sealed portions of 'package 10 oftentimes become brittle when subjected to temperatures of this degree and if brittle will crack or break when bent orfolded. Thus if sealed top portion 22 is bent or folded along a lateral line extending between edges 20, 21 and through either portion 22 itself or through sealed side marginal portions 15, 16 and container portion 14, and the sealed portions which are so bent have become brittle, then these portions will crack or break. Consequently, should it be desired to fold sealed top portion 22 alongside container portion 14 so as to decrease the length of package 10 and adapt the package to fit within a relatively small box it would not be possible to fold the package along a line extending through the sealed portions without running the risk of cracking or breaking these portions.

On the other hand, divider portions 23, 24, not having been heat sealed, do not become brittle and remain highly flexible even at freezing temperatures. Consequently sealed top portion 22 may be swung downwardly from the extended position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 along a lateral line corresponding to either of the unsealed portions 23, 24 to a folded position alongside container por- Patented Nov. 14., 1961 tion 14 (FIGS. 1, 2) without risking a cracking or breaking of the sealed portions. When sealed top portion 22 is in the folded position of FIGS. 1 and 2 package will fit into a box 30 substantially smaller than that necessary to accommodate the package when sealed portion 22 is in the extended position of FIGS. 3 and 4. It should be understood that unsealed portions 23, 24- are provided primarily because of the tendency of the heat sealed portions to become brittle when subjected to freezing temperatures. If the sealed portions can be folded without cracking then unsealed portions 23, 24- may be dispensed with.

Although the package embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 has two vertically spaced unsealed divider portions 23, 24 along which sealed top portion 22 may always be folded, a single unsealed portion (eg 24) would work just as well for this purpose. Two unsealed portions have been provided for the following reason.

When the cooked chicken or other food is initially insorted into package 10, drops of moisture or grease are liable to rub oil on the interior surfaces of members 11, 12 against those portions which subsequently are to be sealed together. The drops remaining between these portions when the latter are sealed form undesirable bubbles or pockets. By providing the package with a pair of unsealed portions such as 23, 24, formation of these on desirable bubbles is substantially eliminated. More specifically, the drops of moisture or grease initially adhering to the interior surfaces of members 11, 12 in the area of upper sealed strip 19 are squeezed out of this area when strip 19 is sealed and into container portion 14 or the space between the opposing walls of unsealed portion 24. Similarly, the drops initially in the area of top portion 22 will be forced between the opposing walls of unsealed portion 23 while those drops initially adhering in the area of sealed strip 25 will be squeezed between the opposing walls of either of the unsealed portions 23, 24. If each member had only one unsealed divider portion (e.g. 24) the elimination of the undesirable bubbles would not be nearly so great as that which is attained with the two unsealed portions 23, 24. It should also be noted that upon sealing portion 22 any drops of moisture or grease in the areas adjacent slot 23 will be squeezed out into the slot which thus also aids in eliminating the undesirable bubbles.

In FIG. 3, package 10 is shown to have a pair of notches 26, 27 cut into side flanges 15, 16 respectively to facilitate tearing open package 10 to remove the cooked food after the latter has been warmed.

Member 14 is shown with an area thereon enclosed in dash-dot lines 28 to indicate the outer surface portion of this member upon which instructions or advertising matter may be printed.

It is to be understood that the embodiment described above and shown in the drawing is merely one of the many forms which the invention may take in practice without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims which are to be interpreted as broadly as possible in view of the prior art.

I claim:

1. In combination, a package containing pro-cooked frozen food and a box for holding said package, said package comprising a pair of flexible planar members composed of heat-scalable material, each of said members having first and second opposite ends and a pair of side edges each extending between said ends, said planar members being sealed together along marginal areas adjacent each of said ends and each of said side edges to form laminated package marginal portions surrounding a package container portion, a first of said laminated marginal portions adjacent said first end having a narrow unsealed transversal channel extending between said side edges to divide said first laminated marginal portion into outer and inner sealed parts and connecting said outer sealed part to said inner sealed part and providing for free movement of the outer part of said frozen package between a first position in which the outer part extends in substantially the same plane as the inner sealed part and a second position in which the outer part extends angularly to the inner part, said outer part having an elongated centrally positioned aperture therethrough hookingl y engageable for lifting of said package, said package having a first dimension measured between said side edges, said package having a second dimension perpendicular to said first dimension and measured between said first and second ends when the outer part is in its first position and measured between said second end and said transversal channel when the outer part is in its second position, said box into which said package is placed comprising a bottom wall, a first pair of opposite vertical walls, and a second pair of opposite vertical walls, said box having a first dimension measured between said first pair of walls and greater than said first dimension of said package, said box having a second dimension perpendicular to said first dimension of said box and measured between said second pair of walls, said box second dimension being less than said package second dimension when said package outer part is in its first position and greater than said package second dimension when the outer part is in its second position so that said box may receive said package when the outer part is in its second position.

2. In combination, a package containing pre-cooked frozen food and. a box for holding said package when filled and frozen, said package comprising a pair of flexible planar members composed of heat-scalable material, each of said members having first and second opposite ends and a pair of side edges each extending between said ends, said planar members being sealed together along peripheral areas adjacent each of said ends and each of said edges to form laminated packages peripheral portions extending around 'a package container portion, a first of said peripheral portions adjacent said first end having a medially positioned lateral slot therethrough hookingly engageable for lifting of said package, an additional laminated portion located inwardly of said first peripheral portion and extending between said side edges, forming therebetween a narrow hollow passageway open at said side edges and connecting said first peripheral portion to said additional portion and providing means for movement of said first peripheral portion of said frozen package between a first position in which the first peripheral portion extends in substantially the same plane as the additional portion and said other peripheral portions and a second position in which the first peripheral portion extends angularly to'the additional portion, said package having a first dimension measured between said pair of side edges, said package having a second dimension perpendicular to said first dimension and measured between said first and second ends when said first peripheral portion is in said first position and measured between said narrow hollow passageway and said second end when said first peripheral portion is in said second position, said box into which said package is placed comprising a bottom wall, a first pair of opposite vertical walls, and a second pair of opposite vertical walls, said box having a first dimension measured between said first pair of walls and greater than said first dimension of said package, said box having a second dimension perpendicular to said first dimension of said box and measured between said second pair of walls, said box second dimension being less than said package second dimension when said first peripheral portion is in its first position and greater than said package second dimension when the first peripheral portion is in its second position so that said box may receive said package when the first peripheral portion is in its second position.

3. In combination, a package containing pro-cooked frozen food and box for holding said package, said package comprising a pair of flexible planar members composed of heat-scalable material, each of said members having first and second opposite ends and a pair of side edges each extending between said first and second ends, said members being sealed together after placing the precooked food therein at peripheral areas adjacent said second end and each of said side edges and along a first portion extending between said side edges between said first and second ends to form a closed package, said members being sealed together along a second portion adjacent said first end, said second sea-led portion having an elongated central hole therethrough hookingly engageable for lifting of said package, and an unsealed lateral passage separating said second sealed portion from said first sealed portion and providing for movement of said second sealed portion of said frozen package between a first position in which the second portion extends in substantially the same plane as said first sealed portion and a second position in which the second portion extends angularly to the first portion, said package having a first dimension measured between said side edges and a second dimension perpendicular to said first dimension and measured between said first and second ends when said second sealed portion is in its first position and measured between said second end and said unsealed lateral passageway when the second portion is in its second position, said box into which said frozen package is placed with said second sealed portion of said frozen package in said second position, comprising a bottom Wall, a first pair of opposite vertical walls, and a second pair of opposite vertical walls, said box having a first dimension measured between said first pair of walls and greater than said first dimension of said package, said box having a second dimension perpendicular to said first dimension of said box and measured between said second pair of walls, said box second dimension being less than said package second dimension when said package second portion is in its first position and greater than said package second dimension when the package second portion is in its second position so that said box may receive said package when the second portion is in its second position.

4. In combination: a package containing pre-cooked frozen food and a box for holding said package, said package comprising a pair of flexible planar members composed of heat-scalable material, each of said members having first and second opposite ends and a pair of side edges each extending between said ends, said planar members being sealed together along peripheral areas adjacent each of said ends and each of said edges to form laminated package peripheral portions extending around a package container portion, a first of said peripheral portions adjacent said first end having a medially positioned lateral slot therethrough hookingly engageable for lifting of said package, a first additional laminated portion located inwardly of said first peripheral portion and extending between said side edges forming therebetween a first narrow hollow passageway open at said side edges and connecting said first peripheral portion to said first additional portion and providing means for movement of said first peripheral portion of said frozen package between a first position in which the first peripheral portion extends in substantially the same plane as the additional portion and said other peripheral portions and a second position in which the first peripheral portion extends angularly to the additional portion, a second additional laminated portion located inwardly of said first additional portion and extending between said side edges forming therebetween a second narrow hollow passageway open at said side edges and connecting said first additional portion to said second additional portion and providing means for movement of said first peripheral portion and said first additional portion of said frozen package between a third portion in which the first peripheral portion and the first additional portion extend in substantially the same plane as said second additional portion and said other peripheral portions and a fourth position in which the first peripheral portion and the first additional portion extend angularly to the second additional portion, said packagehaving a first dimension measured between said pair of side edges, said package having a second dimension perpendicular to said first dimension and measured between said first and second ends when said first peripheral portion is in said first position and measured between said first narrow hollow passageway and said second end when said first peripheral portion is in said second position, said box into which said frozen pre-cooked food-filled package is placed comprising a bottom wall, a first pair of opposite vertical walls and a second pair of opposite vertical walls, said box having a first dimension measured between said first pair of walls and greater than said first dimension of said package, said box having a second dimension perpendicular to said first dimension of said box and measured between said second pair of walls, said box second dimension being less than said package second dimension when said first peripheral portion is in its first position and greater than said package second dimension when the first peripheral portion is in its second position so that said box may receive said package when the first peripheral portion is in its second position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,319,560 Salfisberg May 18, 1943 2,356,078 Myers Aug. 15, 1944 2,337,812 Sonneborn Oct. 30, 1945 2,457,924 Salfisberg Jan. 4, 1949 2,528,251 Spencer Oct. 31, 1950 2,595,708 Salfisberg May 6, 1952 2,881,078 Oritt Apr. 7, 1959 

1. A COMBINATION, A PACKAGE CONTAINING PRE-COOKED FROZEN FOOD AND A BOX FOR HOLDING SAID PACKAGE, SAID PACKAGE COMPRISING A PAIR OF FLEXIBLE PLANAR MEMBERS COMPOSED OF HEAT-SEALABLE MATERIAL, EACH OF SAID MEMBERS HAVING FIRST AND SECOND OPPOSITE ENDS AND A PAIR OF SIDE EDGES EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID ENDS, SAID PLANAR MEMBERS BEING SELECTED TOGETHER ALONG MARGINAL AREAS ADJACENT EACH OF SAID ENDS AND EACH OF SAID SIDE EDGES TO FORM LAMINATED PACKAGE MARGINAL PORTIONS SURROUNDING A PACKAGE CONTAINER PORTION, A FIRST OF SAID LAMINATED MARGINAL PORTIONS ADJACENT SAID FIRST END HAVING A NARROW UNSEALED TRANSVERSAL CHANNEL EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID SIDE EDGES TO DIVIDE SAID FIRST LAMINATED MARGINAL PORTION INTO OUTER AND INNER SEALED PARTS AND CONNECTING SAID OUTER SEALED PART TO SAID INNER SEALED PART AND PROVIDING FOR FREE MOVEMENT OF THE OUTER PART OF SAID FROZEN PACKAGE BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION IN WHICH THE OUTER PART EXTENDS IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME PLANE AS THE INNER SEALED PART AND A SECOND POSITION IN WHICH THE OUTER PART EXTENDS ANGULARLY TO THE INNER PART, SAID OUTER PART HAVING AN ELONGATED CENTRALLY POSITIONED APERTURE THERETHROUGH HOOKINGLY ENGAGEABLE FOR LIFTING OF SAID PACKAGE, SAID PACKAGE HAVING A FIRST DIMENSION AND MEASURED BETWEEN SIDE EDGES, SAID PACKAGE HAVING A SECOND DIMENSION PERPENDICULAR TO SAID FIRST DIMENSION AND MEASURED BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND ENDS WHEN THE OUTER PART IS IN ITS FIRST POSITION AND MEASURED BETWEEN SAID SECOND END AND SAID TRANSVERSAL CHANNEL WHEN THE OUTER PART IS IN ITS SECOND POSITION, SAID BOX INTO WHICH SAID PACKAGE IS PLACED COMPRISING A BOTTOM WALL, A FIRST PAIR OF OPPOSITE VERTICAL WALLS, AND A SECOND PAIR OF OPPOSITE VERTICAL WALLS, SAID BOX HAVING A FIRST DIMENSION MEASURED BETWEEN SAID FIRST PAIR OF WALLS AND GREATER THAN SAID FIRST DIMENSION OF SAID PACKAGE, SAID BOX HAVING A SECOND DIMENSION PERPENDICULAR TO SAID FIRST DIMENSION OF SAID BOX AND MEASURED BETWEEN SAID SECOND PAIR OF WALLS, SAID BOX SECOND DIMENSION BEING LESS THAN SAID PACKAGE SECOND DIMENSION WHEN SAID PACKAGE OUTER PART IS IN ITS FIRST POSITION AND GREATER THAN SAID PACKAGE SECOND DIMENSION WHEN THE OUTER EPART IS IN ITS SECOND POSITION SO THAT SAID BOX MAY RECEIVE SAID PACKAGE WHTN THE OUTER PART IS IN ITS SECOND POSITION. 